- DIRECTV ADVERTISING SILVA VS. LIDDELL (UPDATE)

Wanderlei Silva is attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Cincinnati this weekend, apparently to announce his Dec. 29 fight at UFC 79 in Las Vegas.

As much as the promotion typically tries to keep such announcements a surprise for the live event on pay-per-view, it seems that DirecTV has already started advertising a bout between Silva and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell.

A promotional blurb on DirecTV’s website features a graphic of Liddell and Silva with a description stating, “This is it – the biggest fight of the year. Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell takes on Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva. Plus, Hughes vs. Serra. Miss it and weep.”

The bout is Silva’s return to the UFC after more than a seven-year absence, during which most of that time was spent as a champion in Pride Fighting Championships.

Both Silva and Liddell are coming into this bout off of back-to-back losses.

(UPDATE)
UFC officials did not respond to multiple attempts for comment. The advertisement for UFC 79 on DirecTV was subsequently changed, stating only that match-ups would be posted soon.